ARMENIA DOES NOT RULE OUT AN OPPORTUNITY OF PROLONGATION OF THE EXPLOITING TERMS OF THE FUNCTIONING NUCLEAR POWER PLANT ‘NPP’

ArmInfo
2009-10-16 15:21:00

ArmInfo. The Armenian party does not rule out an opportunity of
prolongation of the exploiting terms of the functioning Nuclear Power
Plant [NPP], Armenian Energy and Natural Resources Minister Armen
Movsisyan said at today’s briefing.

He also added that Armenia reiterated many times that the functioning
NPP will be shut down after building of the new nuclear power block in
the republic. But ‘it is not ruled out that for some period of time
two reactors will function in the republic. We should use potential
of the functioning energy block as much as possible’, -the minister
said and added that he has recently met the leaders of the Ukrainian
holding on turbine production ‘Turbatom’, which is ready to invest
$200 mln for upgrading of Armenian NPP to extend the terms of its
exploitation. Movsisyan said that the Armenian party is discussing
this suggestion. At the same time he assured that international expert
commission should permit prolongation of the terms for exploitation
of the NPP. ‘It is still early to speak about it as the resource of
the energy block was fixed till 2016. Time will come and we shall
specifically think about it’, – the minister said.